MIAMI -- The phone calls kept coming to Jack McKeon the morning after he earned career managerial victory No. 1,000.

 

"The first call this morning was at 8 a.m. from my cigar guy," McKeon said while sitting in the Marlins dugout before the series finale against the Mets. "He just wanted to say, 'Congratulations.' I also heard from my kids and grandkids."

 

McKeon became the 52nd manager, and seventh active one, to chalk up 1,000 wins in the Majors.

 

"Actually, it's 2,000 if you count the Minor Leagues," he said. "But I don't think I'm gonna catch Connie Mack. I'd need 90 wins a year for 12 years ... I'm more concerned with the next 20-25 wins."

 

McKeon, 74, gave no indication when his managing career might end.

 

"I feel 45," said McKeon, who says he keeps in shape by jogging daily. "Doing this keeps me young. Some people say, 'What about the pressure?' I love the pressure. I love the camaraderie with the coaches, players and the media."

 

McKeon told stories from his past -- from his first job as a player/manager in 1955 for Fayetteville (N.C.) in an independent Minor League to working for former Oakland Athetlics owner Charlie Finley, one of baseball's all-time characters.

 

"When I was general manager, I used to sit next to M.C. Hammer in the pressbox," said McKeon, referring to the former A's employee who went on to became an international recording artist. "Hammer used to give Charlie play-by-play over the phone, and he did it like a radio announcer. One time, Hammer had to go downstairs, so he gave me the phone to describe the action to Charlie.

 

"I took the phone and said, 'Ball one ... Ball two ...' real simple. I did that for about five pitches. All of sudden Charlie screams, 'McKeon, you need to listen to how Hammer does it. You don't know how to announce!'"

 

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I hope his managing career ends this offseason if he doesn't sit Lowell.

This team needs a leader who can add some life to the team, some desire. McKeon has become too complacent and the rest of the team has followed.